In a recent event in Indianola, Iowa, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy engaged in a pushup challenge with a pastor named Rev. Samuel Ansong, and also answered questions about his stance on issues related to systemic racism and affirmative action.
Ramaswamy’s platform includes opposition to programs like affirmative action, which he views as divisive, anti-meritocratic, and against American values.
When asked about how he reconciles this position with the historical injustices tied to systemic racism, Ramaswamy responded by suggesting that there was a time and place for addressing past injustices, citing the year 1870.
“Was there a time and place for correcting for those past injustices?”
“Yeah, it was like in 1870,” Ramaswamy told Ansong. (And no, that’s not a typo. He said 1870, not 1970.)
Seriously?
So, the U.S. has been a racially equal society since 1870?
To his credit, he acknowledged the country did not do a “perfect job” of correcting for injustices.
“But at a certain point in time, I think that what you would think of as racism in this country — or you can fill in the blank, sexism or any other -ism or form of discrimination — it gets to be small enough, not to be zero, but small enough that the best thing we can do is let it atrophy to irrelevance,” Vivek added.
While it’s debatable that the time to fix systemic racism has passed in 2023, to suggest blacks attained equality in 1870 is BLASPHEMOUS, OFFENSIVE and, quite frankly, RACIST.
The U.S. had made tremendous strides in civil rights even since the 1960s (not to mention the 1870s). So, one could argue affirmative action isn’t as necessary as it was 20 or 30 years ago if it’s still needed at all.
But to say society was redeemed in 1870?
His response should signal to voters that he doesn’t give a flying f**k about civil rights or racial equality. Perhaps 1970 was the first year that popped into his head. Or maybe, like most of MAGA, he wants to turn the clock on civil rights to the 1920s since he believes systemic racism was fixed by 1870.
Ramaswamy also critiqued the modern anti-racist movement, describing it as potentially exacerbating racism rather than alleviating it. He suggested that, at a certain point, the best course of action is to let racism and discrimination “atrophy to irrelevance.”
Rev. Samuel Ansong, originally from Ghana and currently serving as a pastor in Hawarden, Iowa, appreciated Ramaswamy’s response to his question. He emphasized the importance of both justice and mercy and the need for forgiveness in the fight for justice.
Ansong also mentioned that he saw the pushup challenge as a way to promote pastors’ involvement in fitness and to inspire young people.
It’s worth noting that Ramaswamy’s comments reflect his political stance and beliefs, and opinions on these matters may vary widely among individuals and political groups.
